Project Finance

Infrastructure spending can be seen as a form of economic stimulus, and often comes under the title of Project Finance.

Examples of infraprojects could be building toll roads in Eastern Europe, or hydroelectric plants in South America (e.g. Santo Antonio). Financial turmoil has led to deals being postponed or cancelled. Politics and economics as well as banking play a large part in the financing of these projects.

Dealogic is a company that tracks global project finance volume.

Project Finance Magazine is a magazine dedicated to infrastructure projects around the globe. It also provides coverage of infrastructure funds.

PPP - Public Private Partnership
PFI - Private Finance Initiative (started by UK and Australian governments). It is a means of obtaining private funding for public projects, in exchange for ownership. In the UK it was championed by John Major. Labour critics described it as a back-door form of privatisation. Banks are generally unwilling to lend money for public projects.